The Paradigm of Human-Environment Systems - Natural and Social ...

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Roland W. Scholz & Claudia Binder In this paper, a first step is made towards overcoming this gap. With the HES paradigm we present a process structure model (PSM), which is derived from integrative modeling, system theory, basic cybernetic feedback loop modeling, cognitive sciences, and decision research (Ashby, 1957; Simon, 1957; Scholz, 1987). The PSM allows for investigating regulatory, feedback, and control mechanisms (RFC-mechanisms) in HES. We focus on understanding the mechanisms rather than on describing and defining units of operation. The HES paradigm includes three main characteristics: Higher ordered feedback loops: Game theory (Harsanyi, 1967), clinical psychology (Laing, 1967), cognitive sciences (Freeman, 2000) and other branches consider higher ordered feedback loops as a means to model stable systems. Multiple feedback loops are considered to function as a balancing strategy in coupled systems because of the interaction between positive and negative loops. HES research investigates higher ordered feedback loops within and between the human and environment systems. Interfering regulatory mechanisms: The understanding of interfering regulatory mechanisms has become one of the scientific challenges of HES-research. For ecological systems, this has already been acknowledged by Hartvigsen, Kinzig, & Peterson (1998) who stated that: “Understanding how change on one level of biological organization will alter emergent patterns or mechanisms at another level of biological organization is one of the most pressing problems in ecology.” (p. 429) Relating and integrating disciplinary knowledge: The PSM model and the hierarchy concept proposed in the HES paradigm overcome the disciplinary structure of research but allows for utilizing the potential of disciplinary knowledge. The multi level hierarchy of human systems makes the relationship to disciplinary knowledge explicit as disciplinary views from microbiology, environmental psychology, business sciences, earth sciences etc. can be allocated to a specific hierarchy level. Within each level, insights from sub-disciplines can be integrated into the PSM. This is particular of interest, if sustainable action is the object of research: “One way to generate more robust foundations for sustainable decision making is to search for integrative theories that combine disciplinary strengths while filling disciplinary gaps.” (Gunderson, Holling, & Ludwig, 2002, p. 8). Structure of the paper We first present a blueprint of the processes-structure model of HES. This model comprises the basic units and the central processes of the HES relations that can be applied to the different levels of human systems. Second, we introduce a multi-level hierarchy of regulatory systems, i.e. cell, organ, individual, group, organization, society and supra-national. For these levels we provide a definition of core concepts and introduce processes and mechanisms that are offered as examples to understand the dynamics. Third, we illustrate with an example from epidemiology how the HES paradigm and the hierarchy levels can be used as tools for understanding the complex phenomena of HES. 4 April 2003
Theoretical foundations A blueprint of a HES-research framework The Paradigm of Human-Environment Systems Figure 1 presents a structure-process model for investigating HES. It is based on game and decision theory and includes principles from cybernetics and allows for understanding the structure of the relationship between the human and the environmental system. Thus, regulatory mechanisms, feedback loops and potential control mechanisms (RFC mechanisms) can be represented. The model is divided into human systems (left) and environmental systems (right). The plural is used here to indicate that different systems (e.g., differing in subject matter or physical scale) can be considered on both sides (as indicated by the different layers in Figure 1). For example, in the human systems different hierarchy levels are identified (see below, e.g. Figure 2). The interface between both systems is given by the environmental awareness of humans (3) and the environmental impacts (short (6) and long-term (8) reaction) of human action (5). Figure 1: A structure - process model of HES. The numbers 1-8, correspond to structures or processes explained in the text. The notion of the letters a, b, and c in the environmental awareness boxes are explained in the text. ETH-UNS Working Paper 37 5
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